This year, 14 companies in the real estate/construction/development category made the Pittsburgh 100, compared to five the previous year. In a survey sent out to the region’s 100 fastest-growing companies, some of those firms explained the reasons behind their rapid growth between 2010 and 2012.

2. Purple Land Management 1,167.1%

As a real estate property manager, CEO Bryan Cortney called it “one of the most exciting times” to be involved in the oil and gas business in the U.S. “We have many exceptionally talented and driven employees that are looking to do more, create more, be more,” he said. “Having an entire company live out its mission statement of ‘Give more than you take’ is able to lead us to do incredible things.”

9. Gunning Inc. 208.6%

Gunning, which provides commercial and industrial HVAC systems and sheet metal fabrication, has been on the list five years in a row. “We attribute our success to our expertise in our field, quality craftsmanship and reputation in the region,” said President Dawn Kaelin Gunning. Last year, the company expanded its estimating and fabricating capabilities, which Gunning said enabled the company to double its revenue.

19. Sargent Electric Co. 143%

20. AE Works Ltd. 139.7%

Expansion — both geographically and into federal contracts — helped fuel the architectural and engineering firm’s growth, said President and Owner Michael Cherock. “With the opportunity to pursue a diverse range of projects in new areas, we’ve been able to enhance the breadth of our team’s experience while strategically adding offices in State College and Washington, D.C.,” he said.

The company took an aggressive approach to growth through a business partnership with Colliers and by recruiting a mix of industry veterans and young talent with extensive sales experience, Managing Director and Founding Principal Gregg Broujos said. The Colliers partnership, he said, has enabled the company to enhance service lines to clients for commercial real estate services in western Pennsylvania, the U.S. and around the world. “And the incredible talent that was brought on board during this time has solidified the culture that all of our employees value so much because it fosters collaboration and mentorship throughout the company,” Broujos said.

36. Geo-Solutions Inc. 91.8%

President Robert Schindler said his company has been on a strong growth path for the past six years. In that time, the specialty geo-environmental/geo-technical contractor “has been building momentum within our industry” and capitalized on opportunities, he said.

40. dck worldwide LLC 85.4%

The construction firm has followed a “pursue to win” strategy, President and CEO Stephen D’Angelo said. “We pursue work we feel we can win by partnering with the client to provide solutions that focus on their overall needs and not just construction services,” he said. The company also has increased its geographic reach with the acquisition of companies in Iowa, Arizona and Alabama, while also forming two new worldwide operations — dck/FWF and dck Philippines.

54. DBC Real Estate Management LLC 69.5%

59. Jonlor Developments Inc. 62.3%

A reputation built over 24 years has created a substantial referral base, said President John Rizzi. “Almost all of the new work has come through past client referrals or repeat clients,” he said. The design and construction company also adjusted after the economic downturn in 2008, when new residential construction volume was substantially down. Rizzi said Jonlor expanded its construction activities to include large-scale renovations and additions.

66. Massaro Corp. 55.4%

President and COO Joseph A. Massaro III credits the company’s success to its people. “Because of our dedicated workforce and their commitment to excellence, Massaro Corp. continues to grow,” he said. “We take pride in finding the right candidate for every position and then determining where they fit.” Strategic planning and managerial changes have put the right people in the right places, he said.

71. Rycon Construction Inc. 47.3%

CEO Todd Dominick said the construction contractor benefited from the return of the retail market in conjunction with a slow, steady improvement of the general construction market. Rycon also has been helped, he said, by a diverse client base that spans retail, medical, university, office, light industrial and public work.

82. J. Francis Co. LLC 35.9%

It was a tried-and-true formula for the professional general contracting company: “Planning, hard work and running the business by the numbers,” Owner John McCloskey said. “Company culture became more important in providing an exceptional remodeling experience to our customers.”

96. Miller Electric Construction Inc.29.3%

The company adjusted its practices in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, President William Miller said. “An uptick in opportunity coupled with a refocus on our target markets allowed us to achieve our goals,” he said.